The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-23

I"But there is a spirit in man, and the in
spiration of the Almighty giveth them under
standing" Job xxi. 81 f
The three friends of Job had spoken
long, trying to convince him that his
affection was the just punishment of
sin. Job had met this theory of his
calamities with persistent denial, and
his friends had failed to point out his
transgression. At length Elihu, who
has been a passive listener, becomes
vexed at both sides against Job was
his anger kindled, because he accounted
himself more just than God; and
against his three friends was his anger
kindled, because they had found no
answer and yet had condemned job"
Elihu had refrained from speaking
because the others were older than he,
but "when he saw that there was no
answer in the mouth Of the three men,"
he broke the silence. He admitted his
youth. He had thought that "days
should speak and the multitude Of years
teach wisdom" But he had found
that the great were not always wise, and
that the aged did not always under
stand the right. He now ventured to
ask their attention, not because he was
venerable or held exalted station, but
because "there is spirit in man, and
the breath of the Almighty giveth them
understanding" To the humblest of
them all, that inspiration of the Al
mighty might give the needed light.
This was Elihu's excuse for taking
part in the discussion. Though younger
than the rest who, through long lives,
were supposed to have been gathering
wisdom from all sources, he yet felt
that they had missed that wisdom which
is from above, which is given literally
to all men who ask. Elihu felt that
their words did not come fresh from
their hearts, clothed with the power of
a present experience, but that they
were still cropping among the traditions
Of the past, trying to explain by phil
osophy that was outworn and made
quate, the ever-present problem of
suffering goodness. Whether his own
explanation was any better, we shall
not now pause to consider. Certain it
is that the words which announced his
intention to speak show that he has
grasped a great principle. He believes
in the eternal law of progress. He be-
lieves that all truth does not belong to
the past, and that the words of Jehovah
are not all embalmed in traditions that
have been handed down from one gen.
Grafton to another. He believes that
God gives new light to men from time
to time, that he is perpetual source
of illumination, and new wisdom is
ever shining from his bosom into the
hearts of men. So he says: "This
question is not closed. Your theology
is not the final word. God has some
thing yet to add. Some clearer revela-
tion of his purpose will be given. A
spirit there is in man, and the breath of
the Almighty gives them understand
ing"
This, then, in particular, was the
thought in the mind of Elihu: while
there is spirit in man, something that
gives him kinship with God, it is al
ways possible for the inspiration of
God to play upon that spirit, awaken
ing new thoughts and new experiences,
giving directly new light and new life.' -
The truth of this principle COM
mehds itself to US all. There are mo-
ments in which we learn more than in
years. There are freaks of vision that
repay for the darkness of the valley and
the rocks and briars upon the mountain
side. We walk in doubt and perplex-
ity, baffled and beaten back by ques-
lions that press for answer, but to which
no answer comes. We grope about to
find the way of duty and can touch no
guiding nd,-when all at once ray
from heaven solves our problems, and
light breaks through the thick mazes of
our journey. Such an inspiration is
worth more than the lore of the past.
1t enables one to speak with greater
authority than years Of study and pro-
longed acquaintance with the world
will give. In an hours solitude with
God, one learns more than all the schools
can teach him in an age. Let him
often retire from the Babel clamors of
the world and open his heart to the
Divine influence
1. "There is a spirit in man." With
that spirit man takes hold ON God.
There is something more than this ma
terial frame which brings us into con-
tact with the outward world. There is
spirit in man by which he holds COM
munion with another and fairer realm.
~ This is not the place for formal
logic, nor shall we attempt it. AS the
strongest proof of life is life itself, 80
the strongest proof of the spirit is its
own activity. He who closely studies
himself will become aware of powers
differing from those that reside in hand
and eye. When we read that man was
made in the image of God, we do not
understand that he was created holy: